And merle j



SOCKET FOR INGANDESGENTLAMPS.

No. 451,656. Patented May 5,1891.

WITNESSES:

TTYS.

UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

SAMUEL DEACON, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, AND MERLE J. IVIGHTMAN, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,656, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed March 15, 1890. Serial No. 344,041. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL DEACON, of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, and MERLE J WIGHTMAN, of Hartford, county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sockets for Incandescent Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to certain details of construction of the circuit-breakin g switch in thelamp-circuit, which will be hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical section on line 1 1 of Fig. 6. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2, Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 6. Fig. at is an end elevation with the circuit open. Fig. 5 is a plan of the disk J. Fig. 6 is aplan of the socket with the lamp removed, and it is taken from underneath relatively to the previous figures. Fig. 7 shows the switch when being operated, and Fig. 8 is a modification.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, Ais an incandescent lamp having the two wires connected to the carbon filament terminating, respectively, in the ring B and the central socket C. The central socket C is screw-threaded internally and adapted to receive a screw attached to the socket, by means of which the lamp is held in place. W

J is a disk of insulating material set in the holderD. On the under side of disk J are attached two U-shaped pieces of metal F and H, the latter being inverted and the two being insulated from each other by the material of the disk. The lower transverse part of piece F is attached to the screw L, adapted to enter socket C. The piece F forms a supporting frame-work connecting the disk J and the lamp, the latter being also surrounded by the usual casing. The piece H has its two legs perforated to form a bearing for the insulating-spindle K, which is turned by the handle E. The spring M is attached to the under side of the horizontal part of the piece H and extends parallel therewith. On the end of spindle K is loosely pivoted a rectangular block G, which in its normal upright position is maintained between the spring M and the ring B,

forming an electrical connection between the two, and thereby closing the circuit to the lamp. The block G is adapted to turn with the spindle K, but has considerable slack motion, so that the spindle K mustbe turned a certain distance by means of the handle E before it engages with the block G, and the two move together. This gives to the switch a positive snap action, the circuit beingbroken suddenly and completely, so as to prevent arcing. Various devices maybe employed to obtain this loose action between the spindle K and the block G. In Fig. 1 I have shown a pin passing diametrically through spindle K and engaging with a slot in block G. In this case spindle K has the pin near its outer end, and the part of the spindle projecting beyond the pin passes first through the block G, then through the slotted hole in the piece H, the latter feature being provided to allow a slight vertical play of the spindle, so that the block G can always adjust itself between the spring M and the ring B. In Fig. 8 .the pin is passed through the spindle at a point inside of the block G. In action the spindle K is first turned a short distance, when it engages with the block G and tends to move it and turn the block withit. The block thus assumes the position shown in Fig. 7, where the spring M is raised to a distance from the ring B equal to the diagonal line of the rectangular block G, and further movement throws the block G into a horizontal position with a snap movement, which completely severs the connection between spring M and the ring B, as shown in Fig. 4.. Y

The circuit-connections are as follows: The two U -shaped pieces II and F, which are insulated from each other by the material of the disk J, are connected, respectively, to the two terminals of the wires leading from the supply-conductors into the socket, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These Wires are indicated in all the figures except Fig. 7, and are marked X o. When,therefore, the switchis closed, the

circuit will be from wire X to the U-shaped piece 1 to the screw l) and socket thence through the lilamcntof the lamp and back to the ring 13, and from the ring 13 it is connected by the block G to the spring )1, to the piece R, and thence to the wire Y.

Myinvention,whilcconsistingindetaiIs,discloses a form of lamp socket and switch which is exceedingly cheap in construction and ofro fective in action and separates the different parts of the circuit as far apart as possible in the necessarily limited space. It will also be seen that one of the lamp-termirials-namely, the central socket C-is adapted to connect di- 15 rectly with the insulated iece F, while the other insulated piece H is provided with a switch which bears directly upon the opposite lamp-terminal B. It has been heretofore customary to provide a third piece adapted to connect with one lamp-tern1inal and receive the switch-contact. Our invention dispenses with this third piece and its essential insulation and permits the switch to bear directly upon the terminal in the base of the lamp.

\Vhat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A lamp-socket switch consisting of a rcct angular block, a spindle for turning the same loosely connected thereto, the said block connccting at one side with one terminal of the circuit and on the other side with a spring connected to the opposite terminal and having freedom to adjust itself between the two terminals.

The combination, in alamp-soclcct, of two insulated pieces ll and F, the latter having means for attaching one terminal of the lamp thereto and the former carrying a spindle provided with a loose contact-block and adjusting-spring for connecting, the said piece to the opposite terminal of the lamp.

3. The combination, with an incandescent lamp having its two wires connected, respectivel y, to concentric terminals in the lamp-base, of the socket containingaswitch which is constructed of two pieces attached to an insulating-disk, one of said pieces being adapted to connect with one of said terminals, while the other piece has a spindle and a switch-block adapted to connect with the opposite lampterminal and provided with a spring for adjusting it between the parts which it connects.

Signed at Lynn, county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, this 3d day of )l'arch, A. l). 1800.

SAMUEL DEACON.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. GIBBONEY, D UGALD )l'cKILLO P.

Signed at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this 10th day of March, A. l). i890.

MERLE .l. \YlGll'lMAN.

\\"itnesses:

ADELINA O. THOMSON, HERMAN lhmonorxrz. 

